Ireland to play Ecuador and Bolivia in May

**eirebhoy** · 21/05/2007, 9:41 AM

As I said in the other thread, he hasn't called him up. He asked a few American based players to train with the squad.

**Stuttgart88** · 21/05/2007, 9:46 AM

Originally Posted by pete

anyone else think the senior players don't care about playing for their country anymore? There are plenty of players who have pulled out who have not played that many games this season...

There's certainly a disappointing number citing "personal of family commitments".

I'd love to know exactly what these are.

I think some of those who pulled out have failed to recognise two blindingly obvious things:

(1) their place is by no means safe so this is a chance to impress and at least, when there's any doubt, to benefit from the Kilbane-like "he deserves his place because of his attitude" effect, and

(2) it'll actually be to their benefit if players like Keogh, Murphy, Doyle or whoever emerge with credit from this tour, and by not being there they're minimising the chances of the rookies performing to their best. It's a very short term approach in my mind.

Would they have been so quick to pull out if it was a boozy session in La Manga?

Emmet Malone commented over the weekend on Mick McCarthy turning down being best man at his brother's wedding to play in a similar tournament.

**Burnsie** · 21/05/2007, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

(1) their place is by no means safe so this is a chance to impress and at least, when there's any doubt, to benefit from the Kilbane-like "he deserves his place because of his attitude" effect, and

you don't really believe this do you?

it is absolutely inconceivable that the next squad to be announced, and indeed the next starting xi, won't include given, finnan, dunne, keane etc. even the less established players who have chosen not to travel, like miller, ireland will be in the next squad. staunton patently wouldn't have the guts to drop them, and it would be sheer lunacy to do so anyway. his own lackadaisical attitude to the tour means he cannot read the riot act to anyone who, knowing their place is secure, couldn't be arsed travelling.

**eirebhoy** · 21/05/2007, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by Burnsie

it is absolutely inconceivable that the next squad to be announced, and indeed the next starting xi, won't include given, finnan, dunne, keane etc.

Those players didn't pull out of the squad though.

The 2 Quinn's, Miller, Ireland and Elliott are players that have pulled out but could have went. I'm sure there are others who wouldn't be "injured" if this was the world cup aswell.

**tetsujin1979** · 21/05/2007, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by Burnsie

even the less established players who have chosen not to travel, like miller, ireland will be in the next squad. staunton patently wouldn't have the guts to drop them

He hasn't had any qualms about dropping Miller before

Originally Posted by Burnsie

his own lackadaisical attitude to the tour

Why is Staunton's attitude to the tour lackadaisical?

**Stuttgart88** · 21/05/2007, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by Burnsie

you don't really believe this do you?

it is absolutely inconceivable that the next squad to be announced, and indeed the next starting xi, won't include given, finnan, dunne, keane etc. even the less established players who have chosen not to travel, like miller, ireland will be in the next squad. staunton patently wouldn't have the guts to drop them, and it would be sheer lunacy to do so anyway. his own lackadaisical attitude to the tour means he cannot read the riot act to anyone who, knowing their place is secure, couldn't be arsed travelling.

Why will Miller be in the next squad? He wasn't in the last one.

As for the rest of the post, eirebhoy answered it perfectly for me.

**gustavo** · 21/05/2007, 10:23 AM

Obviously those going out wont get straight into the team for next qualifier but a good performance can help them move up the ranking and defintely those that arent guaranteed a place in the team that passed up the chance to go on the tour arent doing their place in the squad any favours.

**eirebhoy** · 21/05/2007, 10:39 AM

Yeah it's only really the squad places up for grabs but I don't see why they're not important. We're never going to have 11 fit first team players. The only player that can really earn a first team place from this is Hunt and he would have probably started the qualifiers anyway.

**geysir** · 21/05/2007, 11:39 AM

I forget the details but wasn't there a story when Mick McCarthy was called up to the team to play in China, he had no second thoughts, missed his own wedding

or something.

**Jerry The Saint** · 21/05/2007, 11:56 AM

I think we need to get T-shirts made up:

I PULLED OUT OF THE US TOUR

wear them to the games in the Autumn.

**geysir** · 21/05/2007, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

Ecuador are currently 10/11 to win on Betfair. I don't think I can turn that down. At the same time it'd be impossible for me to cheer on the opposition. I think I'll back Ecuador, record the game, check the score on Thursday morning and that's where my betting interest ends so I can watch the match.

I don't get it Eirebhoy. Sure you can do the dastardly deed and back Ecuador

But in watching the game live how could your (modest) betting investment interfere with the might of national pride?

**Risteard** · 21/05/2007, 12:58 PM

Is Ronnie O'Brien actually part of the squad?
Can he play?

**eirebhoy** · 21/05/2007, 1:01 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

I don't get it Eirebhoy. Sure you can do the dastardly deed and back Ecuador

But in watching the game live how could your (modest) betting investment interfere with the might of national pride?

Because I'm talking about putting a decent amount on it. Obviously I'll want to win my bet more than Ireland to win a friendly but I just couldn't watch Ireland play and hope they'll concede.

I'd prefer to tape it considering the time it's at.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 21/05/2007, 5:56 PM

Originally Posted by drummerboy

Yes, O�Shea is injured, presumably has to have some splinters removed from his arse. United physio told him he needs to rest niggling injuries, why didn't he have the decency to drop out when the squad was announced, at least he would have given Stan time to get someone useful in.

If he had done that we would have received an unreal amount of abuse for playing for Man Utd afterwards.

**NY Hoop** · 21/05/2007, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar

Just bought a $25 ticket for the Ireland end. With "extra" charges coming to another $13! What a rip off. By the way who was at the last Ireland game at Giants Stadium v South Africa. I can remember one Benni McCarthy running amok for the first 15 mins. Incredible stuff. Matt Hollands first game I think for Ireland and he played well. Kilbane was dire in that game. 2-1 to Ireland

Yeah what was memorable in that game was so some tosser spending the whole game shouting abuse at the bench and McCarthy jumping up the wall to try and grab him at the final whistle.

KOH

**eirebhoy** · 22/05/2007, 10:33 PM

Ecuador team if anyone cares:
Marcelo Elizaga; Jairo Monta�o, Carlos Castro, Jairo Campos, �scar Bagui; Luis Caicedo, Patricio Urrutia, David Quiroz, Walter Ayov�; Jaime Iv�n Kaviedes, Cristian Ben�tez.

**tetsujin1979** · 22/05/2007, 10:37 PM

According to the news bulletin on RTE 2, Kilbane and Potter will start in central midfield, and Colin Doyle will definitely earn his first cap, but didn't say if he'll start or not

**theworm2345** · 23/05/2007, 3:17 AM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

Ecuador team if anyone cares:
Marcelo Elizaga; Jairo Monta�o, Carlos Castro, Jairo Campos, �scar Bagui; Luis Caicedo, Patricio Urrutia, David Quiroz, Walter Ayov�; Jaime Iv�n Kaviedes, Cristian Ben�tez.

No Edison Mendez? That should be a relief for the 12 year olds playing defense for us. Kaviedes is one to watch out for though.

**Stuttgart88** · 23/05/2007, 9:24 AM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Kilbane will start in central midfield

Good to see Stan thinking ahead. I suppose it frees up Hunt on LHS but I'd like to see KK have a game at LB.

**youngirish** · 23/05/2007, 9:43 AM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

According to the news bulletin on RTE 2, Kilbane and Potter will start in central midfield, and Colin Doyle will definitely earn his first cap, but didn't say if he'll start or not

Don't rate Potter. That midfield looks exceptionally dodgy though I suppose Stan has the excuse of having a serious lack of resources so we'll let it go this time (he should have brought and played Garvan though who is a far, far better player than Potter so again he's not entirely blameless).